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Eiji was over Ash’s death.
No one talked about him anymore, now. Obviously, there were still a few murmurs, a few whispers, a few strange rumors running like rats in New York’s shantytowns... Some kind of myth, a legend telling the story of one of the most amazing gang leaders that the city had ever seen. Some even said that he had been a close friend to Sing, the all-mighty chief of the Chinatown group, that now controlled every inch of the downtown. But all of this was only gossips, chatters. Nobody knew the truth anymore, it had been gradually lost over the time, distorted again and again. The few people who might have known him could be counted with a single hand, and they never talked about him anyway. Why ? Who knew... Because of their pain, because of their fear, because of their respect maybe. No one knew.
During these seven years, the truth had been lost in the depth of oblivion.
And then, one day, an incident triggered a great agitation in New York’s invisible part. A dozen of people, belonging to one of the most powerful gangs in town - one of those regularly trying to steal the crown from Sing and his men - had been “crushed by some unknown guy, and he was alone !”. Testimony of an opposing gang, that not a lot considered true, the story had surely been exaggerated to undermine their rivals. It was obvious, nobody could ever believe this. But rumors always ended up growing. People said the group that had ended up in the hospital had tried to rob a passerby, but it had quickly come to bite them when the man had started to fight back. Excitement instantly grew among the many different gangs. The one whose members had been kicked to the ground wanted his head, the other ones his skills, and in the end everyone was looking for him. In vain, thought, because this mysterious unknown man had disappeared without a trace. People started to give up, and the situation to settle down. At least, it seemed so... Distrust was still tangible everywhere.
As for him, Eiji was still a photographer, now professionally. His pictures were regularly seen in some exposition in one of New York’s many galleries, and he started to dig up his hole in the artistic community. While in the back alleys, people still wondered who had managed to hurt a dozen of young adults, all of them used to fight, at the surface it was another question that often came to mind. This question was “Who is the young blond man appearing on some of Okumura Eiji’s photos ?”. He had never answered to it. Until one day, when a fan posted a picture visibly taken from a cellphone, on the social medias - a picture of a man with delicate features, gold-blond hair, and eyes of an incredible jade green hue. His appearance was almost dreamlike, and, more importantly, extremely similar to the model of these famous photos, although seeming older.
The uproar was instantaneous on the internet. Photography enthusiasts were unhinged, only ever talking about this person and creating thousands of theories about him. In a few hours, the picture had spread through the whole web. Of course, Eiji saw it. He was outside when he did, and only had his cellphone on him. The photo wasn’t really big, a little blurry, taken from afar... And, honestly, he didn’t want to believe it. His heart had already suffered enough, so why bother hoping ? It wouldn’t bring anything but an even greater pain. So, why ? Why was he hurrying back home ? Why did he want to see the picture of the much bigger screen of his computer ? Why was he doing this, for God’s sake ?! He opened the door, switch on his laptop, and didn’t take too long to find it. Eiji’s eyes were stuck on this pale face, clearly visible on the picture, before six words that seemed to vibrate in his ears despite having only been whispered in his back made his turn around, slowly :
- It’s been a while, Eiji.
- A... Ash... ?
- “Ash” ? No, no, the blond answered, shaking his head with a slight smile, Ash Lynx is dead. My name is Aslan Jade Callenreese. It’s nice to meet you again.
Eiji stared at Ash - no, Aslan - without being able to say a word. Each of them stayed stuck in his throat. And yet, Heaven knew he had so many things to day... He wanted to yell, he wanted to ask for an explanation, he wanted to say everything that was on his mind to his friend ! Friend ? Like it was the right word. The link between them had been much stronger than ones you’d have with a friend, he knew it for sure. He was conscious of the way he felt. After all, seven long years had been more than enough for him to understand and identify his feelings. But... Ash - Aslan. - as for him, how did he feel ? Was it the same for him ? A long, too long time ago, he would have thought so, yes, but now ? After all these years of being missing, of being silent, he wasn’t sure of it anymore. If he had really loved him, he wouldn’t have let him alone. He wouldn’t have lied. He wouldn’t have made him suffer... Right ?
So why ? Why was Aslan Jade Callenreese, formerly Ash Lynx, now standing right in front of him ? Why could Eiji still notice the fondness of his gaze and smile ? Why was he getting closer to him, why was he taking him in his arms, why was he hugging him like his life was on the line ? Why, why, why ?! His tears ran on his face, and he would have liked them to be silent and pretty, as they were in movies, but this wasn’t a movie. It was reality, with its real feelings, its real heartaches. Still unable to talk, he felt his own arms move on their own, clasping his shirt and hugging him back as hard as he could. And he realized that maybe, he hadn’t been over Ash’s death. A few seconds passed, or maybe were they minutes - he had lost every sense of reality and time - without any other noise than the ones of the street underneath, until the silence was broken by this voice he had missed so much during the last years.
- Eiji, I-...
- Seven years, the Japanese man whispered. Seven. Years. It’s been... It’s been seven years that you’ve been officially dead. Where were you ? Why didn’t you say anything ? Why didn’t you send me any message, any sign that you were alive ? Are my feelings so insignificant to you ? At which point in your life did you think that pretending to be left for dead and hurting everyone in passing was the right thing to do ?!
His voice had risen more and more as he could finally express himself, Ash’s words being the trigger of it all.
- I’m so sorry, Eiji...
- Well you can be ! For God’s sake, when I learnt you had been stabbed and were at the hospital, I did everything possible to come back here as fast as I could, and all of this for what ? To learn your death ! And now, you’re coming back, just like this ! You better have a damn good explanation !
Ash gulped. He had never seen Eiji like this - it wasn’t the first time he had gotten angry at him, and he had expected this kind of reaction, obviously. Every time he had tried to create some distance between the both of them to protect him, Eiji had always, always answered like this. And this time, it was far more brutal, proportionally to what he must have gone through. He knew well that him disappearing, only leaving the news of his end behind him, would have broken Eiji’s heart. He knew it so well, but what other solution did he have ? And, well, heart always ended up healing, these last days spent observing the one he loved more than anything had brought him confirmation of it. He had been proud to see how he had gotten back to his feet... But in the end, maybe this was just an illusion, and for what was far from the first time, he regretted his actions.
- I needed to do it. If I had stayed alive in everyone’s eyes, even while trying to get away from it, my past would have caught up to me. I wanted to be free of it, even only temporarily.
Seeing the Japanese getting a little calmer, he pursued :
- And also, I... I didn’t want any more people close to me being hurt by my fault. Ash Lynx only brings sorrow, you know it, right ? I wanted to pro-...
- Ash. Eiji’s eyes were full of storm again. Don’t tell me that... You just “wanted to protect me”, once more ? When will you finally understand that I don’t care about being in danger ? I want to be with you, it’s all that matters to me ! I don’t care if I’m threatened, or even hurt ! You’re saying that you only bring sorrow, but are you even aware of all the joy you... You brought... Me ? he shot while trying - and failing - to conceal the cracks of his voice. I spent so much time unable to think about anything else than about your absence, about the loss that you had left behind, you... You... !
Eiji’s words were suddenly cut off by an odd, yet somehow familiar, sensation on his face. Reopening his eyes and letting them get lost in those in front of him, his heart rate going slightly up because of this hand laying on his blushing face, he felt whatever tears he still had been delicately and carefully wiped out by a gesture of the thumb.
- If only you knew how many times I wanted to come back, to tell you that I was, and would always be here, by your side... I strugled so much to keep myself from ruining all of my efforts. The only thing that helped me holding on was the fear of someone harming you, just as it happened before. Even though I know I should have found another way - I do, I swear I really do ! -, even though hurting you was the last thing I wanted, I had to stay far away. I had to do it so I could come back to you without worrying about what would happen.
Still not having let go of Ash, Eiji held him even tighter.
- I know. I understand. And anyway, you can't change what already happened, hum ? But still, it hurt so, so much.
- Please... Try to forgive me, if you can.
- You’re lucky that I’m so amazingly generous and indulgent, he sighed.
- Yeah, you’re right. You’re amazing, Eiji... Ash breathed in his ear.
- Hey, I’m trying to be mad at you here ! Now’s not the time !
Despite his words, Eiji was seized by a shiver running down his spine and a blush creeping on his cheeks, and tried to hide his burning face behind his hands - not an easy task since, as for him, Ash had no intention to let go of him. The blond couldn’t repress a snort as he saw this reaction, and the mere sound of it was all it took for Eiji to forget the world around them. Locking his eyes with the blond’s deep jade ones, he put his arms back around his neck, casting out the last shadows of pain and anger from his face. Why should be angry now ? Ash was here again, by his side, and it didn’t matter that he wore another name. Everything was fine, now. With these thoughts, he moved the blond hair strands out of the way with a light gesture, before delicately putting his lips on the forehead of the one he loved more than anything. And although this wasn’t the first time they had shared a physical touch, both knew this one would stay special. This one carried a message. It said that they were together from today on, and for every day to come, and that as long as they would stand next to each other, everything would be fine.
- You won’t leave again, right ?
- Of course not.
- Is that a promise ?
A pause, a smile.
- Yes. It it.
Then everything would be fine. They would be fine.